Monthly free hair cuts offered to veterans

By John Nolan jnolanfosters.com

Wednesday

Dec 31, 2008 at 3:15 AM

ROCHESTER — "I figure it is time to give back," said Joan Vachon, a Lebanon, Maine resident, who has been a member of American Legion Post 7 Ladies Auxiliary for the past decade, and who is ready to launch a program to help area veterans.

"Roland (Post Commander Patnode) is always looking for ways to help the vets, and my skill is cutting hair," continued Vachon, explaining that on one afternoon every month, at the post on Eastern Avenue, she will cut the hair of veterans for free. The program will start on Monday, Jan. 5, and run from 2 to 5 p.m., with future dates being Feb. 2, March 2, April 6 and other first Mondays of the month throughout the year. Her husband, Marty, is very supportive of the idea.

Vachon has been cutting hair for 25 years, and is a barber and cosmetologist, licensed in New Hampshire. She comes from a military family, with her brother, father and uncles all having served, and her strongest connection, personally, is the 10 years she spent at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in the military barber shop, tending to the haircut needs of active, retired and reserve personnel.

"Flat tops were number one, and high fades were number two," recalled Vachon, referring to her 1986 to 1996 stint. "They didn't allow faddish haircuts."

Since then, Vachon has worked in Rochester salons like Raspberries and Hair Excitement, and for the past four years has cut hair in Style Store, in Shoreyville Plaza. As such, she is also capable of satisfying the whims of the more adventurous veteran.

"I do the occasional mohawk, and once I did dreadlocks, but never again, They had a year's worth of bed lint in them," she said. Vachon is also adept at the type of hair cut that was once called a Yul Brynner, and which is now back in fashion and called a Bic, for those on the cutting edge. She will also be happy to cut the hair of any female veteran who comes along on the first Monday of the month.

She estimates (with dreadlocks out of the picture) that she can average five heads an hour, which mean that 15 veterans could be accommodated at the session.

"It was Roland Patnode who was willing to offer the place and make it possible, and if it works out, it could be extended. I know someone who is willing to help," said Vachon, noting that the free service is very unlikely to impact her regular place of work, which has quite a different clientele.

"They (veterans) don't tend to go to cosmetologists," Vachon said.

She also emphasized that the program is open to all veterans, and not just members of the American Legion.

President of Rochester Veterans Council Norman Sanborn Sr., a short-back-and-sides man, said, "I think it is kind of nice. Some vets don't have much money, and a haircut can be $10 or $12."

"Sign me up," said Iraq war veteran John Quinn of Middleton, enthusiastically, when he learned of the program.

Commander Patnode had praise for Vachon.

"It is a great, great gesture by this young lady. A very good idea and nice to give up her day off. Maybe it will spur others in the community to help our veterans," he said.

For more information on the monthly program, call Roland Patnode at 767-7050.

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